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For years, road-tripping in an electric car has carried a certain reputation. People imagine long charging stops, limited range, and constant anxiety over whether the next charger will be working. But every once in a while, a car comes along that challenges those assumptions and makes drivers rethink what’s possible. That’s exactly what happened with the Lucid Air, and I first came across this story while scrolling through Facebook. Auto Buyers Guide had posted their real-world road trip test of the Lucid Air, showing how the sedan not only matched but actually exceeded its EPA highway range by managing 450 miles at 70 MPH. Alongside that, they documented the Air’s rapid 330 kW charging speeds and noted a few drawbacks, including a sky-high price tag and persistent software bugs.
“Say what you will about the cost (high) of the Lucid Air, this thing is a road trip champ. Why? Efficiency. This trim is EPA rated for 436 miles of highway range, but in the real world, you could cover 450 miles on a single charge at 70 MPH. In our road trip range test, which covers 250 miles of rural highway, high-speed interstate, and a smattering of city streets at the start and end, the Air exceeded expectations. Given that the drive route starts with rural highways, a 62 MPH average speed, plenty of fun corners, and 3,182 feet of elevation gain and loss, the 3.2 mile per kWh figure seemed middling, but once we got on the interstate and set the cruise control to 75, the efficiency actually went up to 3.7-3.8 miles per kWh. When the speed limits changed, we set the cruise control down to 70 MPH. We hit the golden window of 4.0 miles per kWh unlocking the magic 450 miles of range.
When the drive was over, it took us 3 days of commuting to get the battery low enough to sample the DC charging speeds. As expected, the Air hit 330 kW for a brief time, which is how you can get close to the claimed ‘200 miles of range in 10 minutes’. Assuming you start charging under 10% and the battery has been conditioned.
So far, this is the only EV we’ve driven that would be able to do a day trip from the SF Bay Area to Southern California and back with a charging stop of 10 minutes, and range to spare. Impressive. The only problem? The price tag. Ranging from $71,000-$250,000, the Air is far from ‘affordable.’ Also, there were some persistent software bugs that would drive plenty of shoppers ’round the bend.’”
That summary alone is enough to spark curiosity. An EV that gains efficiency at higher speeds and pushes beyond its EPA range rating? That’s not something we hear about every day. It’s a big reason why so many enthusiasts keep their eye on Lucid, even with its smaller market presence compared to giants in the game like Tesla.
Why the Efficiency Matters
The details here are fascinating. At rural highway speeds with elevation changes, the Lucid Air returned 3.2 mi/kWh, which seemed unremarkable. Yet when cruise control was set at 75 MPH, efficiency climbed into the 3.7–3.8 range, and at 70 MPH the sedan unlocked the magic 4.0 mi/kWh mark. That’s how they squeezed 450 miles out of one charge.
Most EVs work the other way around as higher speeds tend to kill efficiency. Lucid’s aerodynamic design and finely tuned drivetrain turn that expectation upside down. It’s a major reason why the Air is consistently brought up as one of the most efficient electric luxury sedans on the market.
Charging Experience
Charging performance was also put to the test. The Air briefly peaked at 330 kW, which is how Lucid claims the car can add up to 200 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Real-world charging sessions don’t always match the marketing promises, but the numbers lined up closely here. For drivers attempting something ambitious like a Bay Area to SoCal run in a single day, that kind of efficiency paired with ultra-fast charging is a game-changer.
Still, this isn’t the first time Lucid’s charging experience has been brought into question. Some drivers switching from Tesla have noted that the reality of public charging networks often falls short compared to the simplicity of the Supercharger system. One driver who made the switch even shared that the charging experience was frankly terrible compared to Tesla.
That perspective makes the Auto Buyers Guide test all the more important, as it proves the Air itself can handle road trips with minimal downtime, but the infrastructure supporting it may still leave owners frustrated.
Community Responses
Several EV owners chimed in under the post to share their own experiences and perspectives.
Jon Angus made an interesting comparison: “You can buy a Long Range Model 3 used for 20k (or 36k new) with plenty of warranty left. It will easily get 250-320 miles on the highway depending on speed with the aero wheels, and will then rapidly charge back cheaper and more reliably than the Lucid Air due to the Tesla charging network. On a 10 hour road trip, you might spend 20 minutes more charging in the Model 3, if that. But if 20 minutes is worth the massive cost bump, by all means get the Lucid. The Lucid is objectively better at road trips, but at what cost?”
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His point captures the ongoing dilemma with the Air. Objectively, it’s phenomenal at long-distance travel. But subjectively, the value equation makes many shoppers lean toward more affordable Teslas.
Quang Lam added another angle: “It has to use the Tesla supercharge network and pay the outrageous MSRP. I would say my Model Y is a better road trip vehicle with more room and Full Self Driving. They keep saying they are better than Tesla. If they say it enough, they might believe it.”
That sentiment echoes what a lot of shoppers feel. Lucid may have the numbers, but Tesla has the ecosystem and software maturity. It’s the kind of stuff that matters for owners day-to-day.
Finally, Sajeer Fazil shared a first-hand ownership perspective: “Driving it for a year and more than happy with it. Apart from some minor software bugs, it has been really fun. And yea the efficiency is pretty interesting. High efficiency in freeways and low efficiency for my normal commute in traffic. The only disappointment for my Air was the DC charging speed. It wasn’t any good after 40-50% SoC. Given how crowded or broken the EA stations are, I can’t take the chance to reach the station and get disappointed at such low SoC.”
This illustrates an important nuance. Even if the car itself is capable of world-class charging speeds, public infrastructure and tapering performance at higher states of charge can still limit real-world usability.
Safety and Comfort Factors
Performance and efficiency tend to dominate the conversation, but there are other elements of ownership that matter too. For instance, one Lucid driver recounted a crash where their Air felt only a small bump while the other car flipped over. Stories like this highlight the structural safety advantages of the Air that often get overlooked.
At the same time, we know that ownership isn’t flawless. Some families have even reported quirks like kids feeling nauseous in the back of the Lucid Air, raising questions about ride quality and interior airflow. These anecdotes show that even for a car this advanced, everyday usability depends heavily on who’s behind the wheel and who’s sitting in the back seat.
From my perspective, the Lucid Air represents proof that efficiency—not just battery size—is the key to making EVs road trip ready. I think it’s amazing that the car gets more efficient at higher speeds, which goes against what we usually expect. At the same time, I can’t ignore that for many shoppers, the entry price alone is a dealbreaker. A car can be as capable as it wants, but if it sits in the $71,000–$250,000 range, it will remain out of reach for most families. That tension between groundbreaking engineering and limited accessibility is what makes Lucid fascinating to watch. They’ve proven what’s possible, but the bigger challenge is making it attainable.
Key Takeaways
- Lucid Air pushes real-world range to 450 miles at 70 MPH, making it one of the most road-trip-capable EVs on the market.
- Charging speeds peaking at 330 kW deliver on marketing claims, but tapering and infrastructure limits can still frustrate owners.
- Community comparisons highlight Tesla’s ecosystem advantage, especially around charging and affordability.
- Safety and comfort stories add depth, reminding us that ownership is about more than numbers.
- Price remains the biggest hurdle, keeping the Air far from affordable for most buyers.
Is the Lucid Air’s Price Worth It?
Would you pay luxury-level prices for an EV that can finally make long road trips feel realistic?
Or do you think features like charging network access and affordability matter more than squeezing out those last 50–100 miles of range?
Let me know what you think in our comments below.
Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.
Image Sources: Auto Buyers Guide’s public Facebook post and Lucid’s gallery, respectively.
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Source: torquenews.com
